Sir Thomas Inc.

Rockingham, N.C. - When the 2006 IHRA Drag Racing season started, Tommy D'Aprile began as a rookie driver in Torco's CompetitionPlus.com Pro Modified class. D'Aprile would be deployed with several missions by his sponsor Evan Knoll and team owner Quain Stott. His main objectives; help Evan Knoll spread a message of encouragement and support to the men and women of the armed forces by competing in the 1963 Pro Mod "Support Our Troops", LeeBoy Corvette and to finish the season in the top 10 among the world's best Pro Modified teams and drivers. D'Aprile and his team were prepared to meet the challenge.

D'Aprile would display the presences and abilities of a seasoned team driver. Fighting back from adversity throughout the season, while improving his performance all along the way. Powered by Torco Race Fuels, D'Aprile completed the season fifth in points, captured top qualifying honors twice and competed in 2 final rounds. He would also rewrite the record books in Grand Bend when he set both ends of the track record (6.084 ET @ 235.10 MPH).

Port Charlotte, Fla. - Entering this weekends Universal Technical Institute World Finals in Rockingham, first year Pro Modified driver Tommy D'Aprile isn't feeling the pressure of the tightest points finish in Torco's CompetitionPlus.com history. Even though D'Aprile has an outside chance of winning a championship in his first full season with Quain Stott Drag Racing and the Evan Knoll sponsored, "Support Our Troops" / LeeBoy Equipment 1963 Corvette, he remains relaxed and looks forward to rolling the car into competition beginning October 20-22.

"I'm in a spot where there's not a lot of pressure," he added. "I can go out and have fun, race myself, go A-to-B and win some rounds." D'Aprile currently sits in the fifth position, less than three rounds of competition separate the top five teams. "We're kind of the dark horse in this championship hunt," said D'Aprile. "The pressure is really on those guys [Stott, Kerunsky, Janis and Rowe] to not make mistakes. It's anybody's race. Whoever can put a good package together and go rounds has will win this."